Article about Ms. Ana Brignoni-Waliczek
Ms.
Ana Brignoni-Waliczek was named EDP's Distinguished Alumnus on March
14. Originally from Dunkirk, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Spanish/Foreign Languages in May 1996.
Utilizing her fluency in English and Spanish, Ana started
working with the Chautauqua County Department of Social Services as a
Spanish-speaking caseworker right after college. She supervised
visitations between parents and children, prepared reports for Family
Court, maintained case records, and provided counseling and work
services for individuals and families.
She moved on to the Unified Court System with the Buffalo
City Court as a court interpreter in 2003. She continued as an
interpreter and assisted non-English speaking persons at the inquiry
counter of Criminal Records. In 2005 she moved up to the Unified Court
System with the Eighth Judicial District in Buffalo as a court
interpreter. Here, along with interpreting, she is responsible for
scheduling and confirming interpreter requests from City, County, and
Surrogate Courts throughout the 8th Judicial District; administering
per diem court interpreter proficiency exams; and reaching out to
members of the community to inform them of various employment
opportunities within the Court System. She also works with plaintiffs
and defendants through all phases of the criminal justice system, from
the preliminary hearing to sentencing. Traveling in the 8th Judicial
District can take her to all of the eight counties in Western New York
- Niagara, Orleans, Erie, Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Wyoming,
and Allegany.
Ana is residing in Lakeview, New York, with her husband Craig
and two children, Ricky and Alexis. She credits SUNY Fredonia with
providing her with the tools for success and the imagination to aim
ever higher. She specifically recalled the inspiration she received
from EDP Director Kathleen Bonds and the other members of EDP. "EDP and
Fredonia taught me to be ambitious, that the sky is the limit. There
are no barriers. Language, education, finances-you can overcome all of
them."